Please give us a brief description of your backstory.
For me, it started about 5 years ago, when I was working at a job building and running CNC plasma-cutting tables. While I was there, I discovered I have a passion for creating things such as metal wall art cut from the tables I built. That then evolved into other things, such as 3D printing and working with cement to make fancy fountain features. After about 1.5 years of doing that, life took me in a different direction, and I bought myself some small woodworking tools, such as a scroll saw, drill, and impact set. My new passion for woodworking had begun.
Not long after that, I discovered a unique, rare, and beautiful form of woodworking art called fractal burning (Lichtenberg burning). I found the lightning designs made from this process in the wood to be so cool and fascinating that I built myself a custom machine to do this work. That also got me into adding epoxy to my work, as I learned it adds so much character, looks very cool, and is quite trendy right now. I was making custom charcuterie boards with fractal burning and epoxy designs, and not long after that, I got myself a planer, portable table saw, and other tools so I could start making cutting boards.
Making cutting boards became a huge passion of mine, and after a year or so of making tons of them, I started getting into bigger builds. I got requested to build a large 8ft white oak dining table with custom stone inlays and my fractal designs. The table was a huge success and got me into that end of furniture building in woodworking now. Of course, after that, I started making tables on my own time and epoxy river tables as well, which would eventually sell alongside other customer orders for custom tables, shelves, countertops, and soon more!
I was doing all of this while working other full-time jobs, and on my first table build, I was working full-time at a cabinet-making factory, and also helping on the side, setting up BC Home Shows. Doing all three jobs in a month, I realized I made much more money building the table than I did working at either of my other jobs. My father is also a business owner, and I have been surrounded by business owners my whole life, between family and friends. I have known since my job at the CNC place (Fastcut) that I eventually want my own shop where I can fulfill custom orders for exotic, high-end artwork and products people would want.
Tell us about your business?
I make exotic handcrafted custom tables and countertops that bring natural beauty, comfort, and functionality into your living space. My work is unlike the mass-produced furniture most people have to choose from today, as it is fully handcrafted and created in collaboration with the customer to fit their needs and wants, helping truly elevate their living space. Whether it’s a live-edge dining table that becomes the centerpiece of family gatherings, a custom island that transforms a kitchen’s look, or a statement countertop for a commercial space, we turn raw materials into functional art. My vision is to combine traditional craftsmanship with modern design sensibilities, creating furniture that is not only durable and practical but also meaningful and unique. Ultimately, my goal is to create pieces that tell a story—one that connects people to the spaces they live and work in and stands the test of time.
What have been your successes, milestones, and challenges?
For wins, I have a decent shop I like, all the tools I need for now, and a nice website. I have made good connections with other contractors like me in town and interior designers who have been responsible for most of my jobs. For losses, I still struggle to reach the general public and make myself better known. I am not as busy as I would like to be, but it is still early, only a few months in, and things are moving in a forward direction.
What did you find most valuable in working with Community Futures Thompson Country?
I learned a lot through my sessions, from bookkeeping and budgeting to marketing and sales pitches. I think what has been most valuable to me is learning who to reach out to, finding out who my customer is, and where I can contact for my line of work to get jobs.
What advice would you give to others who want to open their own business?
Don’t give up; get enrolled in Community Futures if possible, or in some business course. Talk to other business owners and learn everything you can from good resources.
